Cheat Sheets

Reference material, not a lesson. Prompt patterns you can paste and fill in, a checklist to run before you point AI at anything that matters, and a planner for your first project.

3 sheets23 entries

Prompt Patterns

Reusable templates for common AI tasks. Copy, customize, and use these proven patterns.

7 entries

Role + Task + Context + Critique

You are a [role/expert] with expertise in [domain].

Your task: [specific task description]

Context: [audience, constraints, format requirements]

Examples (if needed): [show 1-2 examples]

After completing the task, critique your own response and identify one way to improve it.

When to use: Use when you need expert-level output with self-correction

Chain of Thought Reasoning

[Your question or problem]

Let's think through this step by step:
1. First, [step 1]
2. Then, [step 2]
3. Finally, [step 3]

Based on this reasoning, [conclusion]

When to use: Helps AI show its work and catch logical errors

Iterative Refinement

[Initial request]

[After receiving response:]
"That's a good start. Now refine it by: [specific improvement 1], [specific improvement 2], and [specific improvement 3]."

[Continue iterating as needed]

When to use: Build quality through multiple refinement cycles

Multi-Perspective Brainstorming

I need ideas for [problem/challenge].

Please provide ideas from three different perspectives:
1. As a [perspective 1, e.g., "creative designer"]
2. As a [perspective 2, e.g., "practical engineer"]
3. As a [perspective 3, e.g., "business strategist"]

For each perspective, give one concrete, actionable idea.

When to use: Generate diverse ideas by forcing different viewpoints

Summarization Template

Summarize the following [article/document/meeting notes] in [format]:

[Paste content]

Requirements:
- Length: [word count or bullet points]
- Focus on: [key themes or topics]
- Audience: [who will read this]
- Tone: [professional/casual/academic]

When to use: Create focused summaries for any content type

Writing Polish

I've written the following [type of content]. Help me improve it while maintaining my voice:

[Paste your draft]

Please:
1. Identify 3 areas that need improvement
2. Suggest specific revisions for each
3. Keep my casual/professional/[your] tone
4. Maintain the original message and intent

When to use: Improve writing quality without losing your voice

Learning Assistant

I want to understand [concept/topic].

Please:
1. Explain it in simple terms (like I'm [age/background])
2. Provide a real-world analogy
3. Give me 3 practical examples
4. Suggest one hands-on exercise I can do to reinforce this

If I'm confused, I'll ask follow-up questions.

When to use: Master new concepts through structured explanation

Responsible AI Checklist

Use this checklist before applying AI to important tasks or decisions.

8 entries

Data Privacy

Does this task involve confidential, personal, or proprietary information that shouldn't be shared with an AI tool?

When to use: Consider HIPAA, FERPA, NDAs, and company policies

Stakes Assessment

What are the consequences if the AI is wrong? Is this a high-stakes decision (hiring, medical, legal, financial)?

When to use: Higher stakes require more verification and human oversight

Bias Potential

Could this AI application disadvantage certain groups? Does it involve human judgment about people or opportunities?

When to use: AI can amplify historical biases in training data

Verification Plan

How will I verify the AI's output? Do I have the expertise to catch errors? Is there a human review process?

When to use: Never trust AI output without verification, especially for critical tasks

Transparency

Should others know AI was involved? Am I required to disclose AI use (academic, professional, legal contexts)?

When to use: Many contexts require disclosure of AI assistance

Organizational Policy

Does my organization have an AI use policy? Have I checked what's allowed and what requires approval?

When to use: Check before using AI for work-related tasks

Data Retention

What happens to the data I input? Will it be used for training? Can I delete it? Am I using the right version (e.g., Teams vs. consumer)?

When to use: Enterprise versions often have better data protection

Fallback Plan

If the AI fails or provides poor results, what's my backup plan? Am I overly dependent on this tool?

When to use: Always have an alternative approach ready

AI Project Planner

Template for planning your first AI mini-project.

8 entries

Project Goal

What specific problem am I solving or outcome am I creating? Be concrete and measurable.

When to use: Example: 'Create a 5-minute podcast script about urban gardening'

Success Criteria

How will I know this project succeeded? What does 'done' look like?

When to use: Define clear, observable outcomes

AI Tools Needed

Which AI tools will I use? (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, etc.) Are they free or paid?

When to use: Check tool availability and costs before starting

Time Commitment

How much time can I realistically dedicate? Break it into sessions (e.g., 3 sessions of 30 minutes).

When to use: Start small and build consistency

Steps to Complete

List 3-5 concrete steps to finish this project. Make each step actionable.

When to use: Break the project into manageable chunks

Potential Challenges

What could go wrong? How will I handle setbacks or unexpected results?

When to use: Anticipate obstacles and plan workarounds

Learning Goals

Besides the final output, what do I want to learn from this project?

When to use: Focus on skill development, not just deliverables

Share & Reflect

Who will I share this with? How will I document what I learned?

When to use: Reflection deepens learning and builds momentum

Where these come from

Every sheet above is the condensed version of something taught in full elsewhere. The reasoning behind the prompt patterns lives in the modules, the searchable library of ready-made prompts is at prompts, and the calculators referenced by the project planner are on tools.